MLB Player News

Kiner-Falefa started at first base and went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in Thursday's spring game against Minnesota.

Kiner-Falefa is adding first base to his already expansive list of positions. With Willson Contreras away at the World Baseball Classic and Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) possibly in need of surgery, Kiner-Falefa has made four appearances at first, while also seeing time at shortstop (one game), second base (two), third base (two), and designated hitter (one). Through 10 Grapefruit League games, he's batting .409 (9-for-22) with four walks, two doubles, two RBI and one steal. The latest roster projection by Ian Browne of MLB.com includes both Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio as utility infielders.

Outman is hitting .280 (7-for-25) with two home runs and six stolen bases this spring. He remains in the mix to win a spot on the major-league roster, though the outfield competition is still unsettled, The Athletic reports.

Outman is out of minor-league options, which could help his case to win a final roster spot. The Twins have a glut of left-handed hitting outfielders, however, which could hurt his case. Outman is likely competing with Alan Roden for the final spot. Outman looked like a potential star in 2023 when he hit 23 home runs and a .790 OPS as a rookie in 151 games, but he has struggled since. He hit just .147 with a .558 OPS and four home runs in 37 games after he was traded to the Twins last season. If he makes the roster in a reserve role, he could be a source of stolen bases in deeper fantasy leagues.

Monasterio has emerged as the frontrunner for a utility role with Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) placed on the 60-day injured list, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. Monasterio served as the designated hitter Thursday and went 1-for-4 in a spring game against the Twins.

Gonzalez's injury -- he underwent surgery Thursday and was placed on the 60-day IL -- has meant ample opportunity for Monasterio, who was a minor piece in the six-player trade with Milwaukee that brought Caleb Durbin to Boston. Over 10 Grapefruit League games, Monasterio has made appearances at third base, shortstop, first base and DH, going 8-for-23 (.348) with four walks, a double, a home run, five RBI and two stolen bases. Additionally, the latest roster projection from Ian Browne of MLB.com has Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa making the 26-man roster in utility roles.

Martin went 0-for-3 in Thursday's win over Boston and is hitting just .231 (6-for-21) with three stolen bases this spring. Despite the lackluster spring, he's still seen as making the final roster and getting regular time as a platoon option in left field, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Martin is a right-handed batter in a left-handed heavy outfield, but he could still begin the campaign in more of an everyday role rather than a short-side platoon. The 26-year-old has also had some playing time at second base this spring, so he could get some time there as well. Martin got regular duty the final two months last season and made the most of it by hitting .282 with a 113 wRC+. While he lacks power, he had 11 stolen bases in just 50 games in the majors last season.

Loftin (thumb) is starting in left field and batting third in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Padres.

Loftin has been sidelined the past couple days due to a jammed thumb, but he's ready to rejoin the lineup Thursday. The 27-year-old is expected to open 2026 in a reserve role for Kansas City after posting a .635 OPS in 67 regular-season games last year.

Volpe (shoulder) went through a high-intensity defensive workout at full speed Thursday and is expected to be about two weeks away from taking live batting practice, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

The 24-year-old shortstop continues to progress in his rehab from surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder, which he underwent in October after playing through the injury for much of last season. Volpe will begin the campaign on the injured list but could be ready to make his 2026 debut before the end of April.

Dominguez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League win over Detroit.

Dominguez's long ball was a 431-foot shot off future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander in the first inning. The talented young outfielder is now slashing .333/.343/.667 with three home runs, nine RBI, eight runs and two stolen bases this spring, though he's also struck out 10 times across 33 at-bats. There's not an obvious path for Dominguez to have an everyday role to open the campaign with Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge slated to make up the Yankees' outfield from left to right, but Dominguez's performance during the exhibition slate certainly puts some pressure on manager Aaron Boone to figure out how to give him a chance for regular playing time. Ultimately, it may take an injury to one of the team's outfielders or DH Giancarlo Stanton for Dominguez to be fantasy relevant this year.

The Yankees reassigned Lombard to minor-league camp Thursday.

Lombard trailed off the last few Grapefruit League games at the plate after a hot start, finishing with a .740 OPS, one home run and two stolen bases. He impressed the Yankees both offensively and defensively but still needs some seasoning in the minors before being considered a real option for the big club.

Manoah may not be a lock for the Angels' Opening Day rotation, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, after the veteran hurler allowed four runs on eights hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings in a Cactus League start against the White Sox on Wednesday.

Manoah signed with the Angels on a one-year, $1.95 million contract in early December, and he still has minor-league options remaining, so it's far from certain he'll break camp with the big club. Manager Kurt Suzuki said early in camp that Manoah would have to earn his spot in the rotation, and the hurler made a strong case early, beginning the spring slate with five scoreless frames despite an ominous 1:3 K:BB. Things haven't gone well for Manoah since, as he's yielded nine runs and posted a 7:7 K:BB across 6.1 frames over his past two outings. Suzuki said following Wednesday's game that Manoah is "still definitely in the mix" for the team's fifth rotation spot, but how he fares in his final starts this spring could go a long way to determining whether he makes the cut. Should Manoah begin the campaign in the minors or the bullpen, George Klassen and Jack Kochanowicz are candidates to step into the rotation.

Cole (elbow) said following a 35-pitch live batting practice session Thursday that he and the Yankees "will likely" have a conversation about his next throwing session coming in a Grapefruit League game, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Cole's next outing will come in six days, but it has yet to be decided whether it will be in an official spring training game or a different capacity. The right-hander's rehab from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace has gone well, but if the Yankees put Cole on the 60-day injured list -- which still seems likely -- he will not be eligible to make his season debut until late May.